Tag: rodney stokes

Michigan’s Elk Management Plan

By Glen Wunderlich

A new Elk Management Plan was approved by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rodney Stokes at the April 5 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in Lansing.  The plan incorporates an adaptive approach to management, whereby necessary changes to the plan can be implemented based on results.

Michigan’s current elk herd in an area north of Atlanta is the result of a release of seven animals from “various city parks and public institutions” in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine. The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300-400 in 1939 and 900 to 1,000 in 1958.  The Department of Natural Resources (department) is officially charged with the management of resident wildlife in Michigan by virtue of a 1996 referendum requiring the department to use principles of sound scientific management in decisions relative to the taking of game.  With this in mind, the department has unveiled a new elk management plan with the following goals: Read more

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Michigan’s New Elk Management Plan Approved

Michigan’s current elk herd is the result of a release of seven animals from “various city parks and public institutions” (Stephenson 1942) in 1918 about three miles southeast of Wolverine. The herd grew steadily with estimates of 300-400 in 1939 (Shapton 1940) and 900 to 1,000 in 1958 (Moran 1973).

…while no formal objective has been defined for bull-to-cow ratio in the Michigan herd, it is believed that about 60 bulls to 100 cows is most desirable. This is about twice as many bulls to 100 cows as are in many western herds.

A new Elk Management Plan was approved by Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Director Rodney Stokes at the April 5 meeting of the Natural Resources Commission (NRC) in Lansing. The plan was developed to provide guidance for managing elk by focusing on three goals:

1)      Manage for an elk population that can be sustained by available habitat;

2)      Use hunting as the primary method to control the number of elk; their distribution so that difficulties involving elk interactions with people are abated; and the proportion of males to females in the population; and

3)      Enhance the public’s understanding of elk management in Michigan.

The planning process began Read more

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Tell Michigan’s DNR What You Think

The Department of Natural Resources (Department) is committed to understanding our partners’ impressions of the Department. As we strategically plan for our future and the future of our natural resources, we would like your help.

We would like to know your opinions about the Department’s strengths and weaknesses and the threats and opportunities that face the Department and natural resource management over the next five years. We also want to know more about how our partners are involved in natural resource management and outdoor recreation. We are using a variety of tools to collect this information including focus groups, phone interviews, a statewide citizen survey, Department employee survey and this survey of partners. I am asking that you complete the survey which can be found at Strategic Planning Survey. Read more

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Conservation Town Hall Meeting

State Senator Phil Pavlov will be hosting a conservation town hall meeting on February 27th, 2012 at the Donald E. Dodge Auditorium in Port Huron beginning at 7:00p.m. The Senator is pleased to host Rodney Stokes, Director of the Michigan Department of Natural Resources, as well as members of his staff to provide insight into the Department and hear your concerns regarding conservation issues in our state. Please forward this e-mail to anyone whom you know would be interested in attending this meeting. More details to follow. Read more

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